Vandals cause $20,000 in damage to Victoria East High School

More than $20,000 in damages were reported at Victoria East High School over the weekend.

An incident report filed with the police department stated that $20,000 worth of trees were destroyed, and about $1,400 in other damages were caused to windows, walls, lights and a chain-link fence.

Diane Boyett, Victoria school district communications director, urges anyone in the community who knows about the vandalism to contact Crime Stoppers, the Victoria Police Department or school administrators.

"This sort of vandalism is inexcusable, and every person in Victoria has the right to be angry because these schools belong to the community," Boyett said. "We hope the people responsible are caught and part of their punishment is restitution."

Criminal mischief that exceeds $20,000 in damage but is less than $100,000 is a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison, and fines up to $10,000 can be assessed.